Product Reviews Net » BMW http://www.product-reviews.net Information on the latest gadgets, technology, news and product reviews Sat, 26 May 2012 11:39:50 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Porsche and BMW recall over potential problems http://www.product-reviews.net/2012/03/26/porsche-and-bmw-recall-over-potential-problems/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=porsche-and-bmw-recall-over-potential-problems http://www.product-reviews.net/2012/03/26/porsche-and-bmw-recall-over-potential-problems/#comments Mon, 26 Mar 2012 21:05:20 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=149854 It’s a bad day if you are the owner of a German built car because both Porsche and BMW have announced a recall of some of their vehicles over potential problems. The former are recalling the 2012 911 Carrera S while the latter is having to recall the 2003 and 2010 BMW 5 and 6 series.

The issue with the 911 is because there could be interference with the coolant and fuel line, which in some cases could mean that the fuel line could become disconnected to the connector, if this happens then fuel could leak causing a misfire or in some cases the car could stall, which could be dangerous in certain situations and could even catch fire.

Those who have affected vehicles will be notified by Porsche and have their car booked in to be repaired for free, this should begin in April. For those who fear they have an affected model should contact Porsche on 1-800-767-7243. More details can be found by visiting the NHTSA website.

As for BMW the issue is much worse because there are 1.3 million vehicles being recalled due to a potential issue with the battery-cable cover, we are told that this is one of the largest recalls for the German automaker. There are cases where the cable cover that is inside the trunk/boot could be fitted incorrectly, if this is the case then there could be a failure with the electrical system, which could lead to a possible fire risk.

BMW 5 and 6 Series built between 2003 and 2010 could be affected so you are advised to contact your local dealer or customer service in your region; thankfully there have been no reports of injury. Those affected by the recall will be notified by BMW soon and the free fix will only take 30 minutes to resolve. Again more details on this recall can be found by heading over to the WSJ.

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2012/03/26/porsche-and-bmw-recall-over-potential-problems/feed/ 1 Similarities of 2014 BMW i8 doors http://www.product-reviews.net/2012/02/14/similarities-of-2014-bmw-i8-doors/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=similarities-of-2014-bmw-i8-doors http://www.product-reviews.net/2012/02/14/similarities-of-2014-bmw-i8-doors/#comments Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:11:01 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=148728 Waiting for the release of the 2014 BMW i8 has been like watching paint dry but we still have a way to go yet, at least there has been a steady stream of information even though most of what we know is speculative. We say this because while we have a lot to go on from the official website this is always subject to change with a project like this. Having said that we now have a much clearer picture of what those doors will look like, and it’s plan to see there are similarities with a few other great cars.

As you would imagine the spies have been out with their cameras and you can see that the doors look very similar to those used on the McLaren F1, SLR and the Ferrari Enzo. This is one of the features that were seen in the concept design; so nice to see it has been left in because there are a number of elements that have been taken out already.

These awesome looking butterfly doors look just like they did in the concept and the cameo role the BMW i8 made in the recent Mission Impossible movie. These doors do seem much safer than those on the Mercedes SLS AMG because we know they require explosive charges if the car roles during an accident, although we cannot be certain if they will still need the explosive charges.

Those of you with eagle eyes will notice the doors are not made mostly of glass; this is for two reasons safety and cost. To see the glass removed from the door below the belt line check out the video, we have to warn you that you could either go snow blind from all the white or suffer an adverse effect from the camouflage.

It’s finally nice to see new cars coming out that truly look like they belong in the 21st century and the BMW i8 is certainly one of them, from the design to the technology used to give it the power and fuel consumption promised to us. While this may be a sports car it shows that cars do not have to be bad for the environment in the process, more details on this can be found from the official i8 webpage.

We are unsure of an exact release date for the i8 but we believe it will be in the latter part of 2013 and will have a sticker price in the region of $350,000 to $400,000 USD. While this will seem like a lot of money you have to realize that the technology being used is cutting edge and comes at a cost.

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2012/02/14/similarities-of-2014-bmw-i8-doors/feed/ 0 Kia KH, an unlikely BMW rival http://www.product-reviews.net/2012/02/13/kia-kh-an-unlikely-bmw-rival/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kia-kh-an-unlikely-bmw-rival http://www.product-reviews.net/2012/02/13/kia-kh-an-unlikely-bmw-rival/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:30:52 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=148706 Kia has been around since 1944 but it’s only now that we have started to see some huge strides in not only the design of their vehicles but also the technology to make them perform and handle better, as well as being much safer as well. Put these cars on their own and they perform pretty well but put them up against the likes of Audi, BMW or VW and things are very different, but this could all be about to change.

There is to be an all-new Kia codenamed the KH and could be an unlikely rival to BMW because it’s going to be the first Kia to come with rear-wheel drive. It’s hard not to see the importance here, as having the power going to the rear wheels gives the car a completely different dynamic when it comes to driving, something that BMW has been doing for years.

We cannot be certain if the Kia KH will be coming to the US but it needs to if the company has any hope of achieving the sales they are hoping for, although we do know the likes of Korea and Europe will get the new model. The growth that Kia has been experiencing lately has been astounding and it’s because of cars like this that has helped them achieve this.

Looking at one or two sketches of the KH here we can’t help but think of the BMW 7 Series and Maserati-esque grille when we look at the front end of the car, mixed with a bit of Aston Martin for good measure. We are certain that a few car fans will be thinking this is a blatant copy of BMW’s model but the finished design should look very different to what we are seeing now.

BMW must be a little wary of Kia’s new vehicle because it will be a fraction of the price of the 7 Series, although there will still be some people who will say you pay for what you get – not sure that’s being said as often in these hard times?

Why should this sketch surprise us because back in December BMW’s chief designer Christopher Chapman left the German company to go and work for Kia instead, so yes we could begin to see many more cheaper cars looking like a Beamer.

The jury is still out if this is a good thing or not because having a cheaper version of a BMW on our streets could begin to affect sales of the real thing becasue passersby may have to do a double take if a top businessman is driving a Kia and not a BMW.

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2012/02/13/kia-kh-an-unlikely-bmw-rival/feed/ 1 BMW Recall 2012: Mini models hit with fire hazard http://www.product-reviews.net/2012/01/16/bmw-recall-2012-mini-models-hit-with-fire-hazard/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bmw-recall-2012-mini-models-hit-with-fire-hazard http://www.product-reviews.net/2012/01/16/bmw-recall-2012-mini-models-hit-with-fire-hazard/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:20:44 +0000 Gary Johnson http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=147522 We are only halfway through the first month of 2012 and we have another auto recall for you. Only a few days ago we told you about the massive recall that Ford had issued, and today it’s the turn of BMW to issue a recall. It concerns a number of Mini models that have been hit with a fire hazard and affects the car globally.

The German automaker has announced it will recall around 235,535 vehicles from the Mini range, and according to a report on CNN is because of a faulty electric water pump for the turbocharger. The pump may go wrong and may cause the connected electronic circuit to overheat, which can then smoke or even worse catch fire.

The system in the Mini’s works differently from those found on the BMW and Rolls-Royce cars that have also been recalled in the past, BMW has told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but some Mini models have caught fire in the same way.

BMW is still looking at the root of the problem to see if it is related or simply coincidental, and so far there have been 81 cases of the problem in the Mini Coopers around the world. There have been no reports of accidents or injuries so far according to BMW.

Models involved in the recall include model years between 2007 and 2011 Mini Cooper S convertibles and hatchbacks. Also the three door Mini Cooper Clubman S, Mini Cooper Countryman S, along with the John Cooper Works version of the Mini Cooper. All non-turbocharged Minis are not affected by the recall.

Dealers will replace the affected water pumps and owners will be contacted, but owners can contact their dealer where the vehicle came from. In the US customers can call 1-800-831-1117 or email customerrelations@bmwusa.com.

Do you own a Mini affected by the recall?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2012/01/16/bmw-recall-2012-mini-models-hit-with-fire-hazard/feed/ 1 BMW Recall 2011: Models listed with faulty water pump http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/10/31/bmw-recall-2011-models-listed-with-faulty-water-pump/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bmw-recall-2011-models-listed-with-faulty-water-pump http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/10/31/bmw-recall-2011-models-listed-with-faulty-water-pump/#comments Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:40:08 +0000 Gary Johnson http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=144093 Over the last week or so we have seen a growing number of auto recalls affecting thousands of vehicles. First there was the issue surrounding some faulty brake switches affecting some Harley Davidson models, which could even result in brake failure. Then we heard of some GM models that had a faulty tire pressure sensor system. Now we have news of a BMW recall 2011 with some models listed that have a faulty water pump.

According to Rush Lane the German car manufacturer has announced it is to recall more than 32,000 vehicles, which were manufactured between 2008 and 2011. The problem surrounds a faulty auxiliary water pump that may cause overheating, which can then lead to a fire in the worst case scenario.

The models at the center of the recall include the BMW 5 series Gran Turismo, 7 Series, X5 SAV, and X6 SAV. It includes models with either the eight or twelve cylinder turbo charged power plants, which can be in danger of overheating because of the problem so will now be recalled.

So far there have been over a hundred reported pump failures and two engine compartment fires, but no injuries or crashes have been reported. The auxiliary pump is used to cool the turbocharger, and if the unit fails overheating will occur.

The problem was first picked up by BMW in 2009 and then again in April 2010, where a burning electrical wire was found in a BMW vehicle. Owners of the affected vehicles will be notified by BMW beginning next month, and dealers will replace the pump and ensure proper functioning.

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/10/31/bmw-recall-2011-models-listed-with-faulty-water-pump/feed/ 0 Orders begin for Mini Coupé, impressive price and MPG http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/09/26/orders-begin-for-mini-coupe-impressive-price-and-mpg/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=orders-begin-for-mini-coupe-impressive-price-and-mpg http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/09/26/orders-begin-for-mini-coupe-impressive-price-and-mpg/#comments Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:23:57 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=141249 It has been over two years since we first learned of the Mini Coupé, but we can finally say that the new version of the ever-popular little car is coming, as orders will now be taken from October 1, 2011. There are a number of impressive things that BMW have given us here, the first is the MPG figures, and the second is its price. Having the right balance between the two will help sales.

There have been so many version of the new updated supermini, but the Coupé is the first to come with just two-seats giving it a true sporty feel. This new model will help to complement the other four models in the range, the Countryman, Clubman, Convertible and the Hatch. It is hoped that the Coupe will appeal to the new younger driver – and we cannot see why BMW will not succeed.

The price will start from £16,640, which is the on-the-road price. As for those fuel- efficiency, they vary depending on what model you go for. The flagship model offers 39.8mpg, but it is the Mini Cooper Coupé SD that impresses the most, as that diesel engine will give you a return of 65.7mpg – let’s see your Prius do that.

Whenever you have a car that does that amount of miles to the gallon they are small, give you a horrible ride, and will not fill you with any confidence the moment you take a corner a little too fast. However, the Mini Coupé has the handling of a go-kart as Expert Reviews puts it.

The nearest rival in terms of the fun factor has to be the Fiat 500 Abarth. This model is smaller, but the £14,452 price tag will make you consider it as an alternative – the choice will be yours.

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/09/26/orders-begin-for-mini-coupe-impressive-price-and-mpg/feed/ 0 Configure your 2012 BMW 6 Series Coupe now http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/18/configure-your-2012-bmw-6-series-coupe-now/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=configure-your-2012-bmw-6-series-coupe-now http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/18/configure-your-2012-bmw-6-series-coupe-now/#comments Mon, 18 Jul 2011 10:32:30 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=137014 With just two and a half months to go until the 2012 BMW 6 Series Coupe hits dealerships, the German automaker has now made their configurator live, so now you will be able to configure your very own version just how you want it. Whenever you visit a dealer you seem overwhelmed by the options that are available to you, so isn’t it much better to choose what optional extras you want from the comfort of your own home?

The starting price is $83,000, so you will be pleased to know that some of the options that are available to you will not increase that price. Just be careful when you start ticking those boxes, because it is surprising how fast the price can increase. We found that when we selected all the best options on the configurator the price was a little over $100,000. However, those extras are well worth it.

So let us have a breakdown of all the optional extras: Firstly you will be pleased to know that all color options are free; there are nine metallic and three non-metallic options. All four leather interior options are free, as are the three different trims. It is not until you get to the packages that you will begin to add more to the base price.

The list of options are as follows: Driver Assistance Package for $3,700, M Sports Package for $4,400, Cold Weather Package for $750, Premium Sound Package will cost $1,800, Luxury Seating Package will cost $2,00 and $2,988 for the Full LED Headlights & 20″ Wheels.

There are also other options available to you, such as a few others to increase performance and safety. There are also a selection of accessory options for you to choose from, with the BMW Apple iPhone Media / BMW Apps Version Snap In Adapters looking to be the most popular of them all.

Once you have selected some of these options, such as color, trim and wheels, you can then use the configurator to see what you have created. They will be displayed the moment that you make the change, which you can then view at 360 degrees.

The moment that you drive your new 2012 BMW 6 Series Coupe away it will come with four years or 50,000 miles warranty and maintenance program. You also get four years unlimited mileage roadside assistance and BMW Assist Safety Plan; those alone are worth several thousand dollars. Visit BMW to configure your 2012 BMW 6 Series Coupe.

How have you configured your new 6 Series BMW?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/18/configure-your-2012-bmw-6-series-coupe-now/feed/ 0 BMW powered Husqvarna Nuda 900R takes a bow http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/11/bmw-powered-husqvarna-nuda-900r-takes-a-bow/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bmw-powered-husqvarna-nuda-900r-takes-a-bow http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/11/bmw-powered-husqvarna-nuda-900r-takes-a-bow/#comments Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:58:00 +0000 Gary Johnson http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=136347 The Husqvarna brand has been around for many years now, and has had various owners including Electrolux and the Gagiva Group. The company has been a massive part of the off road world, but have now unveiled the BMW powered Husqvarna Nuda 900R, which takes a bow.

This 900cc twin powered street bike is based on the Parallel Twin BMW F800R, but gains an extra 100cc amongst other things. The company is claiming the bike has over 100bhp and 100 Nm torque according to an article by Bart Madson of MotorcycleUSA.com.

Despite have more power the new model also weighs less than the BMW F800R, coming in at only 386 pounds. The Nuda 900R also has a higher-performance chassis with a tubular steel trellis frame. The frame shows off the inside of the Twin and the red valve covers, which is added to improved brakes and suspension.

There are inverted Sachs forks which is a big improvement over the BMW F800Rs non adjustable forks. On the rear is a nice Ohlin’s high spec fully adjustable shock. Stopping power is provided by radial mount Brembo monobloc calipers on the front of the bike.

The new Husqvarna still keeps some of the features of the BMW with the chain drive on the right hand side, and the fuel tank sits under the seat. Although the fuel filler cap sits towards the front of the seat on the left. The styling of the bike may not be to everyone’s taste with the hanging radiator and sharp angular bodywork, and reminds you more of a KTM than a BMW.

In the video which you can see below, the new Nuda 900R is being ridden around a test track and it certainly looks a fun bike to ride. Company designer Raffaele Zaccagninni has said it “represents a starting point for the future of Husqvarna”. The naked supermoto style of bike is being aimed at the younger market, and the company said “we aspire to attract and engage young motorcyclists with our innovative and thrilling concept of the road motorcycle as a means of achieving pure riding pleasure.”

But pricing which has yet to be revealed needs to be competitive for the younger market to consider the Nuda 900R. The BMW F800R starts at almost $10,000 and how much this new lighter and faster model comes in at remains to be seen.

Do you like the look of the Husqvarna Nuda 900R?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/11/bmw-powered-husqvarna-nuda-900r-takes-a-bow/feed/ 0 BMW E-Scooter concept to make battery bikes more acceptable http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/05/bmw-e-scooter-concept-to-make-battery-bikes-more-acceptable/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bmw-e-scooter-concept-to-make-battery-bikes-more-acceptable http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/05/bmw-e-scooter-concept-to-make-battery-bikes-more-acceptable/#comments Tue, 05 Jul 2011 06:26:22 +0000 Gary Johnson http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=136050 Most new electric vehicles you get to hear about these days are cars, whether they are a hybrid or a full electric car four wheels is the norm. We have brought you news about electric bikes before with the range of Brammo motorcycles most recently. But today we have news of the BMW E-Scooter concept, which could be the vehicle to make battery bikes acceptable.

A great way to improve pollution and congestion of our big cities is to get commuters on to two wheels, and the idea of a two wheeled electric solution will interest some people. Electric bikes that have been released so far have only been short range solutions according to an article on ioLmotoring.

BMW have come up with a bike which instead of having a conventional frame, has a casing which houses the battery cell and electronics which forms a monocoque tub. This has the steering head attached at the front, and at the back a single-sided swing arm with a hydraulic damper.

There are no power figures for the electric motor but it is too big for being mounted on the hub and it drives the rear wheel with a toothed belt. One really clever feature of the bike is when it slows down or brakes; kinetic energy is used to increase its range by up to twenty percent.

The bikes electric components are easily accessed, and there is even an independent system that monitors important data such as temperature and voltage from the battery. To charge the vehicle there is a cable to hook it up to the household supply. There is an earth leakage breaker which will trip if there is a fault to protect the user.

When the scooter is being ridden the motor and electronics are liquid cooled, and when it is charging coolant is moved through the radiator by an electric coolant pump. Unlike electric cars that use liquid coolant for the batteries, the BMW saves space and uses air.

At the moment the BMW E-Scooter is only a concept but it looks to be a big step forward with electric bikes. Thing is though will there be a market for it? Many modern scooters even though powered by gasoline, are extremely economical and cheap to run. They offer a good alternative for car owning commuters who want to save time and money with their journey to work.

Do you think there is a market for electric scooters?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/05/bmw-e-scooter-concept-to-make-battery-bikes-more-acceptable/feed/ 0 Safest cars in 2011: Updated results no suprise http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/04/safest-cars-in-2011-updated-results-no-suprise/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=safest-cars-in-2011-updated-results-no-suprise http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/04/safest-cars-in-2011-updated-results-no-suprise/#comments Mon, 04 Jul 2011 09:08:47 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=135981 Throughout the year the safest cars in 2011 are always in a constant state of flux, the reason for this is because newer and safer models are being released all the time. We already gave you our first look into this in January, which we then followed up again in March with the then current top 5, now we have an updated list and the results is no surprise.

As cars get more technically advanced they in turn become safer and as a result there are less deaths on the roads – well in most places. Only the more expensive luxury cars used to have such features, but as they get even newer tech those old yet still impressive safety features get passed down to the cheaper models.

This used to happen at such a slow rate, but because technology moves at such a faster rate than ever before, the turnaround is now much quicker. Now we know that some cars will always be safer than others, so it comes as no surprise that a recent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study shows that it is the SUV that is said to be one of the safest models.

One of the biggest changes that have helped to reduce crashes was the introduction of electronic stability control or ESC and it is on the SUV where it has been most affective. When a small vehicle used to lose control it did it in a subtle way, this was far more dramatic with an SUV, as the inertia was much greater.

If an SUV was to lose control then chances are it would topple over, so you can see how a safety feature like this would have a greater affect on a larger vehicle than a smaller one. WSJ has been looking into the IIHS report, which is conducted every few years, and we can clearly see a decline in death rates in SUVs. The average death rates for 1999-2002 SUV models were at 82 per million, and in the most recent report it shows that those numbers have dropped.

Over 150 models took part in the recent study, from SUVs, Hatchbacks, Saloons etc. Now we have learned that these Sports Utility Vehicles are safer than ever, but it is the Minivan that is seen as the safest, as the death rate in these are lower than any other model. Now there are a number of reasons for this, but the biggest reason has to be due to the fact that there is a much larger safety cell for passengers.

What model of vehicle do you think is the safest on the roads?

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